High School Introduction to the Physics of Space Flight
What you'll learn
- This in an INTRODUCTORY level course, written for high school leaving certificate students.
- Please look through the many preview materials before enrolling.
- Introduction to gravity, gravitational potential energy and acceleration due to gravity.
- Describe, discuss and calculate values using Kepler's and Newton's Laws.
- Describe, discuss and calculate escape velocity.
- Conservaton of momentum and rockets.
- Introduction to Low Earth and geo-stationary orbits.
- Describe and discuss factors associated with safe re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Introduction to Special Realativity.
- If in any doubt about the course, or its suitability, do not enroll.
Requirements
- The course requires fluency in the English Language.
- Reasonable proficiency in junior high school math.
- Reasonable proficiency in junior high school science.
- This is a High School Leaving Certificate Level Physics course.
Description
Please check out the many preview lectures and lecture descriptions before you enroll.
IF in any doubt, do not enroll.
This is a a High School level Physics course, covering the Space topic from the old New South Wales Higher School Certificate course, and going beyond syllabus requirements in several places. The new syllabus, for which a course is in preparation, omits much of the material covered in this course.
The course starts at a very basic level, with discussion of gravity, and builds on this gradually, covering projectile motion and uniform circular motion. The course builds on these to consider Kepler's Laws, and Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation. The course then moves on to consider Special Relativity.
Concepts are explained simply, using illustrations where appropriate. The assumed level of ability and knowledge is reasonable levels of proficiency in junior high school level science and math. Leaving certificate (HSC) Physics is not an easy course, and is usually studied by higher ability students. Some of the concepts, especially in the final section of the course, Special Relativity, are complex. This is a high school level course, but one aimed at high ability leaving certificate students.
There is little assumed knowledge, apart from a general familiarity with science and math, such as that provided by junior (years 7 to 10) high school. This is a Senior High School Level course, it is an introduction to concepts such as gravity, projectile motion, orbital mechanics, how rockets work and relativity,
Who this course is for:
- Please look through the lecture descriptions and previews, IF IN DOUBT DO NOT ENROLL.
- This is a High School Level Physics Course
- Students studying a high school level Physics course.
- People interested in a high shchool level introduction to the Physics of Space Flight.
- This is a high school level course, but one aimed at higher ability students. Leaving certificate physics is one of the most difficult subjects offered at High School Level.
Instructor
![John Moylan](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 142 Reviews
- 1,994 Students
- 2 Courses
I am a physics teacher currently employed in the NSW school system, and can teach all science subjects, but my principal area of expertise is Physics teaching.
I have studied both Physics and Astronomy subjects at Macquarie and Sydney Universities, giving me a sound theoretical understanding of the material covered in the HSC Physics course. This understanding has been added to by teaching Physics and Science subjects to students in High Schools ranging from central schools in far western NSW to large high schools in Sydney.
My Qualifications include B. Sc. (hon.) from Newcastle University, Grad. Dip. Ed., from Macquarie University and an M. A. from Sydney University.